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Here's a big merci to the awesome Ally Carter for joining us at readergirlz this month!

We loved hearing stories about the Gallagher Girls (and guys) and spy school and secrets and lies! Ooh, intrigue.

Some highlights:

Ally's amazing guest blog!

Ally considers herself both "wishy-washy" and "adaptable." She's a chameleon!

Up next: Gallagher Girls 5 and Heist Society 2. HOORAY!

We've so loved having you here this month. Thank you, Ally!

This month's recommended reads include the Kiki Strike novels by Kirsten Miller. We postergirlz felt that Kiki and company would have great fun with the Gallagher Girls. (Can you imagine how awesome that team-up would be? If these were TV shows, I'd be hankering for a crossover episode!)

Today, Kirsten told me what this month's theme, Courage, means to her:

My favorite superhero has always been Batman because he wasn't born super. Unlike Superman or the X-Men, Batman is an average human being just like the rest of us. His skills aren't the result of toxic waste spill or a nip from a radioactive spider. Batman chooses to be super. It's that choice that sets him apart from the rest.

In my opinion, we all place far too much stock in the gifts we're granted at birth. Beauty, intelligence, wealth -- the world tells us these are the things that make us who we are. They play a role, no doubt, but far more important are the traits we develop as we grow older.

In other words, it's not what we're born with, it's who we eventually become that counts.

No one is born courageous. Impetuous, maybe. Reckless, perhaps. But you'll never meet a courageous toddler. They simply don't exist. You have to choose to be courageous. It isn't hard. Everyone over the age of five can do it. All it takes are two simple steps . . .

1. Listen to your gut. (It will almost always identify the right thing to do.)
2. Do what your gut tells you, no matter what the consequences may be.

It's that second step that stymies most people. They know what they should do, but they lack the intestinal fortitude to follow through. That's why we're so fascinated by stories of individuals who have risked their lives, their jobs, or their freedom to help others. They're exceptional. They do what the rest of us can—but won't.

I'm fortunate to have been raised by one of those people. My own mother may be the most courageous person I've ever met. She's never rescued anyone from a burning building or testified in court against murderous mobsters. Hers is an everyday sort of courage. She always stands up for the powerless. She never bows to convention. She will accept any challenge or take on any fight if she thinks it's the right thing to do. (And believe me, you don't want to fight my mamma.)

One of the proudest moments of my life was when my father told me I was, "brave and stupid, just like your mother." (If you knew my dad's sense of humor, you'd find that incredibly touching.)

Throughout her life, my mother has chosen to be courageous. From what I've seen, it hasn't been easy. And although it's a constant struggle, and I don't think I'm quite there yet, I will always try my best to follow her (and Batman's) example.

- Kirsten Miller

Planning your own Gallagher Girls book group get-together? Here are some party ideas from featured author Ally Carter.

Invite: Send a coded message via covert means. (This invitation will self-destruct in three...two...)

Décor: Plaid, crests, swords, and cut-out letters

Food: Peanut M&Ms, "drugged" apples, crème Brule, and, of course, Evapopaper (perhaps phyllo dough could be used in such a way)

Movies & TV Shows: Alias, the Bourne movies, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Craft: Make a hair bow out of coordinating plaids; create a super secret book cover to hide your covert texts; hollow out an old lipstick tube or some other innocuous-looking container to form a secret carrying device; make a holder for all that dangerous/killer spaghetti.

Featured Author Ally Carter hand-picked songs for the playlist that accompanies Only the Good Spy Young this month (and how cool is that peek at the mix, left?). Listen to the full soundtrack with the player in the right-hand sidebar or in the July issue!

Cammie knows how to kick some butt in the Gallagher Girls books, and we should all be prepared to defend ourselves. That's why one of our July spotlights is on the Fight the Fear Campaign.

In July 2009, two women were attacked in their own home. Tragically, one of them, Teresa Butz, was killed; her partner courageously survived the attack. Shortly thereafter, the Fight the Fear Campaign was born.

Called "a quest for confidence through strength," this community-oriented violence prevention initiative provides free self-defense training and violence prevention education to women. The group is based in Seattle and hosts workshops which are open to all women. (Our own Liz Gallagher has attended; see her story here.)

Fight the Fear will be holding a workshop specifically for girls ages 11-17 on August 8th from 11 AM to 1 PM. To register, email [email protected]

If you attend this or other related events, please let us know! Email [email protected].

Hey rgz!

You know I always say rgz is for girls and...really smart guys. One of the best guys around our community is Book Chic.

Hello, Readergirlz!

Thanks so much for having me! I’m such a huge fan of the site, the books, and of course the Readergirlz themselves that it’s an absolute honor to be here.

I’m very excited to be sharing the launch of Only the Good Spy Young with all of you. As those of you who are up-to-date with the series already know, Cammie Morgan has found herself in quite a predicament, and I’m just as anxious as all of you to find out if she and the Gallagher Girls are going to find a way out of this one!

Overall, the fourth Gallagher Girls book wasn’t the hardest one to write (that honor goes to Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy), but it was full of its own kind of challenges: who can Cammie trust? What can she do? How can she go about her junior year in a way that is both safe and smart without being a wallflower, standing on the sidelines of her own life?

From the beginning, I knew this was going to be a “big” book in terms of what Cammie learns, how she grows, and what has to happen next. I sincerely hope you’re as excited to read what happens next as I was to write it.

Thanks again so much for having me, and happy reading!
Ally